Foundation garments



g- 1969 B. FRISCHER ET AL 3,459,190

FOUNDATION GARMENTS Filed Sept. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BLA NC HE FRISCHER ROBERT FRIS HER BY WM ATTORNEYS Aug.5,1969 SCHER ET AL 3,459,190

FOUNDAT I ON GARMBNTS Filed Sept. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS BLANCHE FRISCHER ROBERT FRIS HER ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 128-483 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Brassieres which mold and support the bust of the female torso while at the same time provide adjustable uplift thereof.

The present invention pertains generally to foundation garments, and more particularly, to foundation garments such as brassieres, and the like, that are so constructed and arranged as to admirably perform the functions of molding and supporting the bust or breasts of the female torso, while at the same time further being constructed and arranged to provide adjustable uplifting to the bust or breasts of the female torso and adapted to enable separation at the mesial front thereof for ease in positioning the garment relative to the torso.

Generally, a foundation garment of this type comprises bust cup assemblies located at the front of the garment and a torso-encircling government extending to rear of the garment. All brassieres provide a measure garment, brassieres generally comprise, in addition, shoulder strap assemblies which extend from the bust cup assemblies to the torso-encircling government at the rear of the garment. All brassieries provide a measure of molding and supporting to the busts or breasts of the female torso to enhance the natural bodily contours thereof. However, and especially for women having a large bust or breasts, the degree of uplift provided by a conventional brassiere is insufficient or otherwise inappropriate for maximum comfort and aesthetic appeal. Moreover, the conventionalback closings utilized in brassieres are inconvenient and, especially for a woman having a large bust or breasts, such conventional back closings may be extremely difiicult to use.

Having in mind the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide foundation garments, such as brassieres, and the like, that are constructed and arranged to admirably perform the functions of molding and supporting the busts or breasts of the female torso to enhance the natural bodily contours thereof, while yet being further constructed and arranged to provide adjustable uplift to the busts or breasts and adapted to be separable at the front thereof to thus eliminate the extreme difficulty and discomforts of back closings.

Another primary object of this invention, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is to provide foundation garments, such as brassieres, and the like, that are constructed and arranged to provide a more than adequate positive uplift of the bust or breasts of the female torso which is completely comfortable in use.

Yet another primary object of the present invention, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is to provide foundation garments, such as brassieres, and the like, that will positively adjustably uplift the bust or breasts of the female torso, while yet being unusually comfortable during use, and being capable of fabrication by known brassiere manufacturing apparatus, procedures, techniques, and the like.

The invention resides in the combination, construction, arrangement and disposition of the various component parts and elements incorporated in an improved foundation garment, such as a brassiere, or the like, constfucted 3,459,190 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 'ice in accordance with the principles of this invention. The present invention will be better understood and objects and important features other than those specifically enumerated above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following details and description, which when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing describes, discloses, illustrates and shows certain preferred embodiments or modifications of the present invention and what is presently considered and believed to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended ot be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and breadth of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a brassiere-type foundation garment constructed in accordance with the present invention, from the front thereof, shown in posi tion upon a female torso;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the foundation garment of FIG. 1, from the front thereof, in a partially open position to show additional details of construction;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the brassiere-type foundation garment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the completely open position thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another brassieretype foundation garment constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of yet another brassiere-type foundation garment constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational View of still another brassiere-type foundaiton garment constructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a still further brassiere-type foundation garment constructed in accordance with this invention.

With reference now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, there is illustrated therein a foundation garment, such as a brassiere, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and generally designated by the reference character 10. The exemplary brassiere-type foundation garment shown in the drawing is applied to one comprising shoulder and thoraxengirdling straps or bands, as will hereinafter be described, although it will be understood that this invention is equally applicable to a brassiere having only thorax-engirdling straps, or for that matter, any torso-encircling government or foundation garment.

The foundation garment or brassiere 10 comprises a plurality of bust cups or breast receiving assemblies 12 and 14 adapted to be supported on a female torso by a torso-encircling government or back strap 16 and a pair of shoulder straps 18 and 20.

The bust cups or breast receiving assemblies 12 and 14 may be of any conventional construction and design, and may, for example, each comprise an upper panel 22 and a lower panel 24 secured together along a seam line 26 to provide a cup of generally conical configuration having an apex location 28, an upper peripheral portion 30, a lower peripheral portion 32, an inner peripheral portion 34 and an outer peripheral portion 36.

The torso-encircling government or back strap 16 may be of any desired construction and design, and may, for example, comprise a plurality of generally triangular side panels 38 and 40 secured-with the adjacent outer peripheral portions 36 of the assemblies 12 and 14 by means, such as stitching 42 and 44 and an elastic central portion 46 structurally associated with each of the panels 38 and 40 by means of stitching 48 and 50 and extending therebetween. The shoulder straps 18 and 20 are respec- 3 tively secured with the assemblies 12 and 14 at the upper peripheral portions 30 thereof, as by means of stitching 52 and 54 and with the back strap or torso-encircling government 16 by means, such as stitching 56 and 58, respectively.

The bust cups or breast receiving assemblies 12 and 14 are adapted to be adjustably secured together at the mesial front of the torso generally between the breasts by adjustable or selectable and separable stressing means 60 to provide uplift to the bust or breasts and to enable the garment to be opened at the mesial front portion thereof.

The stressing means 60 comprises elastic or other fabric straps 62 and 64 secured respectively to the assemblies 12 and 14 adapted to be crossed in front of the torso and be adjustably and removably secured with the opposite assemblies 12 and 14. The straps 62 and 64 may be secured either on the outside, or front facing of the assemblies 12 and 14, or on the inside thereof.

The straps 62 and 64 may, for example, extend substantially entirely of the lower peripheral portions 32 of the assemblies 12 and 14, respectively, and be secured therewith by means of stitching 66 and 68. The upper peripheral margin 30 of each of the assemblies 12 and 14 are provided with multiple fastening devices, such as eyes 70 secured with the assemblies 12 and 14 in generally spaced apart relationship, as shown particularly in FIG. 2. The straps 62 and 64 are provided with spaced apart hooks 72, or the like, adapted to engage the desired ones of the eyes 70, as shown particularly in FIG. 1. Accordingly, a woman has a choice of how much uplift or stressing is to be provided by the straps 62 and 64 by hooking or otherwise structurally associating the straps 62 and 64 with the desired fasteners or hooks 70 on the opposing assembly 12 or 14 to thereby provide whatever degree of uplift is desired or required.

Accordingly, it may be readily seen that the bust cups or breast receiving assemblies 12 and 14 provide molding and support to the breasts, with the torso-encircling government 16 and the shoulder straps 18 and supporting the assemblies 12 and 14 on the torso with the adjustable cross straps 62 and 64 providing an adjustable degree of stress or uplift to the breasts. The separable fasteners 70 and 72, in addition to providing adjustable or selectable uplift or stressing further enables the brassiere 10 to be separated generally frontally thereof to provide a front opening construction.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-7 there is shown and illustrated other foundation garments, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and designated generally by the reference characters 110, 210, 310, and 410, respectively. Each of the garments 110, 210, 310 and 410 are substantially similar to the garment 10 and accordingly, a detailed description thereof is not believed to be necessary. The various component parts of the garments 110, 210, 310 and 410 are designated by similar reference characters to those used in describing the garment 10, with the respective reference characters starting with 110, 210, 310 and 410, respectively.

With particular reference now to FIG. 4, the straps 162 and 164 of the garment 110 may be quite short, and be secured with the assemblies 112 and 114 only at the inner peripheral portions 134 rather than extending substantially along the lower peripheral portions of the assemblies 12 and 14 as did the straps 62 and 64 of the garment 10. Likewise, the upper end portions of the straps 162 and 164 may be removably secured with the inner peripheral portions 134 of the assemblies 112 and 114 as shown.

With particular reference now to FIG. 5, the garment 210 shown and illustrated therein is substantially similar to the garment 10 with a separable fastener means, such as a plurality of buttons 274 structurally associated with the strap 264 and a plurality of buttonholes 276 formed in the strap 262 to enable securement of the straps 262 and 264 together at the junction therebetween.

With particular reference now to FIG. 6, the brassieretype foundation garment 310 is similar to the preceding garments with the straps 362 and 364 being respectively secured with the assemblies 312 and 314 substantially entirely along a line extending between the respective apices 328 thereof and the lower peripheral portions 332 thereof, as by means of stitching 378 and 380, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the brassiere-type foundation garment 410 is substantially similar to the preceding garments, the garment 410 being further provided with strap restraining means, such as loops 382 and 384 secured with the respective assemblies 312 and 314 by means of stitching 386 and 388, or the like, to slidably engage the straps 462 and 464 to assist in retaining the straps 462 and 464 secured with the upper peripheral portions 430 of the assemblies 412 and 414.

It is to be understood that terminology such as upper, lower, inward, and outward, as used in the preceding description and in the subjoined claims, along with other similar directional terminology, is to be construed and interpreted in its normal and accepted sense. However, such terminology is not to be construed or interpreted in a limiting sense either in the preceding description or the subjoined claims, since the same is used merely to facilitate an understanding of, and to clearly Set forth and particularly define the present invention. The inner sides of the breast cups are the adjoining sides and the outer sides are those which attach to the torso-encircling band.

While the invention has been shown, illustrated, described and disclosed in terms of certain preferred embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiments or modifications herein shown, illustrated, described or disclosed, such other embodiments or modifications as may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein being intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and breadth of the claims hereto appended.

What is claimed is:

l. A foundation garment comprising, in combination, a pair of bust cups for molding and supporting the breasts of a female torso and a pair of adjustable straps structurally associated with said cups for providing uplift thereof; each of said straps extending generally tangentially from at least a lower end inner peripheral portion of one cup to an upper and inner peripheral portion of the other cup.

2. Foundation garment defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable straps extend substantially entirely adjacent the lower periphery of the cups.

3. Foundation garment defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing interconnection of said straps at the location whereat they cross each other.

4. Foundation garment defined in claim 1 wherein said straps comprise substantial width at the lower end portions thereof and extend and are secured substantially entirely vertically of the lower portion of the cups.

5. Foundation garment defined in claim 1 further comprising separable fastener means structurally associated with said straps for enabling separation of the garment generally frontally of the torso for ease in positioning and removing the garment relative to the torso.

6. Foundation garment defined in claim 5 wherein said separable fastener means comprises means for adjustably securing said straps with the upper and inner peripheral portion of said cups.

7. Foundation garment defined in claim 6 wherein said adjustable securing means comprises a plurality of devices positioned at spaced apart positions relative to at least one of said straps and said peripheral portions of said cups and means for engaging said devices positioned relative to the other of said straps and said cups.

8. The foundation garment defined in claim 1 wherein said cups are of generally conical configuration.

9. Foundation garment defined in claim 1 wherein said straps are structurally associated with said cups at locations below the upper margin thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 572,621 12/1896 Stitt 12.8483 2,553,225 5/1951 Weaver et a1. 128- 483 6 2,607,038 8/1952 Spare 128-485 2,725,563 12/1955 Rich 128488 FOREIGN PATENTS 967,075 3/1950 France.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128487 

